KNOW BEFORE YOU GO
There is so much to see and do in Pigeon Forge and surrounding areas. We've put together a few tips to remember to help you make the most of your time here (and hopefully avoid any situations you might not want to put in your memory books.)
CALENDAR OF EVENTSA popular destination for events and festivals, be sure to check out the calendars of events below as you plan your trip to see what you might want to attend, or to plan for high volume travel seasons!
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trafficThe traffic on the Parkway in Pigeon Forge as well as the roads leading into and through downtown Gatlinburg is notorious. We strongly recommend using the Waze navigation app, planning extra time to get around and anticipating "high seasons."
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FUN TIME TROLLYThe Fun Time Trolly is a great way to get around Pigeon Forge. We also highly recommend using it to get to Dollywood - you can park at Patriot Park and hop on the Trolly and go straight into the park (avoiding the $20 Dollywood parking fee!).
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Recommended eats
Breakfast
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If you've never eaten pancakes as big as your face while a flock of animatronic hens serenades you by clucking "Bohemian Rhapsody" & "Sweet Caroline" then let us tell you friend...YOU ARE MISSING OUT. We took our four year old and had an absolute blast to the point that she now requests it every single morning that we wake up in Pigeon Forge. Coffee was a little weak, but food was delicious. Word to the wise: share something with a friend...portions are massive!
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Lunch & Dinner
big daddy's pizzeria & arcadeLocated only 1.7 miles from The Sweet Retreat, Big Daddy's is a staple of our trips to Pigeon Forge. Always delicious, kind and friendly service, delicious pizza and even an arcade in the back where we love playing endless games of skee-ball make it the perfect "lets eat out" spot that won't break the bank. Want to eat in? Big Daddy's does carry-out orders too! old millOur family really enjoyed The Old Mill. It’s a family-style Southern Cookin’, meat-and-three type place and everything we ordered was delicious. It gets SUPER busy and they don’t take reservations, but you can call and ask how long the wait is before you go. We went around 4:15 one afternoon and walked right in but the line snaked all the way down the ramp and around the corner when we left. Apple Barn Applewood farmhouse grillMy sister-in-law won’t go to Pigeon Forge without eating at the Apple Barn Applewood Farmhouse Grill. We haven't gotten the chance to check it out yet but it's an absolute favorite of many Smoky Mountain travelers. There are also adorable shops on site for you to enjoy. |
PAWPAW'S CATFISH CABINLocated just under 20 minutes from The Sweet Retreat, this New Orleans style, hole-in-the-wall family run establishment is a must-eat when in town. Our favorites are the shrimp and okra gumbo and of course the catfish. You also have to leave room for the homemade white chocolate bread pudding! Laissez les bons temps rouler! CORKY'S RIBS & BBQCorky's BBQ originated in Memphis, TN and we are thrilled to have a location just a mile from The Sweet Retreat. They are clean, delicious food, and friendly service and you can order take out as well. We think they have the best fried okra in town. Definitely recommend. |
A Nice Dinner Out
We've had a number of folks ask for recommendations for a nicer meal out to celebrate a birthday or anniversary. While we haven't had the opportunity to dine at all of these restaurants yet ourselves, we polled some locals and long-time-visitors to the area and had the following places recommended to us.
DANCING BEAR APPALACHIAN BISTROWe’ve driven out to this gorgeous restaurant and were blown away by how beautiful it is. Although we haven’t gotten to dine there yet, our long time friends/guests chose it for their 20th anniversary dinner and raved about it so we’re including it on our list as our top fine dining rec! Check out their review and book your reservations now.
“Our 20th anniversary dinner at Dancing Bear was SO amazing. We had one of the nicest, best waiters ever; he spent lots of time with us and even gave us recs on hikes and other things for our time here. We also got to chat with the manager several times. The restaurant itself has a rustic modern feel- that is fancy but not stuffy at all. We ordered steak, halibut and sticky toffee pudding. We would have licked the plates if we could!! They also own their own creamery and brewery. So our beer was fresh as was the ice cream!” the peddlerThe Peddler is a highly recommended place for “nice occasions” and they have the capability to make reservations ahead of time which is a huge win. Ask to be seated by the river as it’s a lovely view. You can call day-of for reservations at 865-436-5794 or visit their website HERE.
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GREENBRIAR rESTAURANTBULLFISH GRILLTHE CHOP HOUSETHE LOCAL GOAT |